This year marks the 100th anniversary of the World War I Armistice. At the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918, the World War I Armistice, or cease-fire, with Germany went into effect. On November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson addressed the United States citizens to express the relevance and importance of the day:

“A year ago today our enemies laid down their arms in accordance with an armistice which rendered them impotent to renew hostilities, and gave to the world an assured opportunity to reconstruct its shattered order and to work out in peace a new and juster set of international relations.”

President Wilson also laid out the basis for what would be initially known as Armistice Day: “To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations.”

So it is right and fitting that every Veterans Day and especially on this special anniversary, we honor and thank those who have volunteered to serve and protect our nation.

The Department of Technology is proud and grateful that so many veterans have made their academic home with us and are pursuing degrees in our programs. The department has 15 veterans pursuing degrees in construction management, four veterans pursuing degrees in engineering technology, three veterans pursuing degrees in computer systems technology, five veterans pursuing degrees in renewable energy, one veteran pursuing a degree in engineering and technology education, and two veterans pursuing master’s degrees and four veterans pursuing graduate certificates.

Below is a partial list of our department of technology student veterans and their accomplishments.

“I was in the Marine Corps as a Joint Forward Observer. I served for four years stationed in Hawaii. I went to the Philippines, South Korea, Japan and Okinawa.”—Gunnar T. Manion, computer system technology

“I was in the Army National Guard as a 74D-chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) specialist. I served for six years, including one year in Afghanistan.”—Dallas Nichols, renewable energy

“I was a hospital corpsman in the Navy, and stationed in Pensacola, Florida, attached to Fleet Hospital 3. There I trained work in the mobile hospital overseas. We also performed multiple hurricane evacuations, search and rescue operations, provided shelter and emergency medical procedures, and aided in hurricane recovery.”—Samantha (Sam) Taylor, engineering technology

“I was a USAR (medic/surgical technologist) and USAF (K-9 Law Enforcement).”—Jen Troyer, technology graduate student and Illinois State staff member

“I was a hull maintenance technician second class petty officer (surface warfare specialist/aviation warfare specialist or HT2 (SW/AW) in the United Stated Navy. I honorably served four years and was stationed in Coronado, California, on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-73), USS George Washington (CVN-73), and the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). I was a part of a RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific Exercise) on the Reagan, Three-way Aircraft Carrier Hull Swap (Member of “CVN-220” Crew), a Southern Seas Deployment on the Washington, and two PIAs (Planned Incremental Availabilities) one on the Reagan, the other on the Roosevelt. My job was welding, brazing, plumbing, sheet metal fabrication, carpentry, machine operation, and damage control. I was in Engineering Department’s Repair Division, so essentially anything that broke, we fixed, including a lot of emergent/critical repairs on vital systems.”—Michael Boffa, construction management

“I was in the Marine Corps and served six years. I served as part of a field military police unit, non-lethal weapons instruction, and Marine Corps Embassy Security Guard. I served in Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Korea, Jerusalem, and Cameroon.” Nicholas Carlyle Carey, technology graduate certificate

“I served as a 0311 rifleman with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in the United States Marine Corps from 2012-2016.”—Jonathan P. Lechner, renewable energy

“I was USAF active duty for four years in the Civil Engineer Squadron, Seymour Johnson, North Carolina. I was deployed with 1ECEG Spec Capes Team 12-Charlie, conducting mission critical and high priority construction project s in Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, and Afghanistan. Some projects included building new Predator drone hangers, fortifying positions in secret offensive locations, and installing airfield systems with NATO forces on active runways.” Vincent Cecchin, construction management